Sophie Turner captured the world’s attention as Sansa Stark in HBO’s epic fantasy series Game of Thrones, transforming from a fresh-faced 14-year-old into one of television’s most compelling actresses.
Her portrayal of the resilient young noblewoman earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2019. But there’s so much more to this English actress than her iconic red-haired character.
Key Facts
Full Name: Sophie Belinda Turner
Date of Birth: February 21, 1996
Age: 29 years old
Birthplace: Northampton, England
Height: 5’9″ (175 cm)
Nationality: British
Profession: Actress
Instagram: @sophiet (14+ million followers)
Relationship Status: In a relationship with Peregrine Pearson
Children: Two daughters
Sophie Turner Biography
Born on February 21, 1996, in Northampton, England, Sophie grew up in a creative and nurturing environment. Her mother, Sally, worked as a nursery school teacher, while her father, Andrew, was employed at a pallet distribution company.
When Sophie was just two years old, the family relocated to Chesterton, Warwickshire, where she spent an idyllic childhood.
Sophie’s upbringing was anything but ordinary. She lived in a spacious Edwardian house near Leamington Spa, complete with pigsties, barns, and a paddock. “My childhood was pretty fun. We had pigsties, barns and a paddock, and used to muck around in the mud,” she said about those formative years.
The actress has two older brothers named James and Will, though she has shared that she had a twin who tragically died before birth.
From the remarkably young age of three, Sophie joined the Playbox Theatre Company, showing early signs of the performer she’d become. She attended Warwick Prep School until age 11, then moved on to the independent King’s High School for Girls.
Even while balancing her early acting career, she proved herself academically, achieving five GCSE A-grades and four Bs, including a B in Drama.
Sophie Turner Career
Sophie’s life changed forever in August 2009 when she was cast as Sansa Stark in HBO’s Game of Thrones. Following her drama teacher’s encouragement to audition, she dyed her naturally blonde hair auburn for the role.
Filming kicked off in July 2010, and at just 14 years old, Turner found herself part of what would become one of television’s most groundbreaking series.
The show’s success was nothing short of extraordinary. Viewership skyrocketed from 2.2 million at the premiere to a staggering 19.3 million by the series finale in 2019.
Sophie appeared in 59 episodes across all eight seasons, and her portrayal earned her a Young Artist Award nomination in 2012 alongside her on-screen sister, Maisie Williams.
However, the experience wasn’t without its challenges. Turner has been candid about struggling with mental health issues during her teenage years in the spotlight, including dealing with an eating disorder and depression from fan criticism.
She even revealed she was told to lose weight while playing the role of Sansa.
Despite these difficulties, she delivered consistently powerful performances that resonated with millions worldwide.
While Game of Thrones dominated her schedule, Sophie expanded into film work with an impressive range. In 2013, she landed her first movie role as the lead in Another Me, an independent thriller based on Catherine MacPhail’s novel.
That same year, she starred as Adeline March in the television film The Thirteenth Tale—both projects exploring themes of doubles and identity that personally resonated with her.
Her role as Heather in 2015’s action comedy Barely Lethal, alongside Hailee Steinfeld and Jessica Alba, showcased her versatility beyond dramatic medieval settings.
But it was her casting as Jean Grey in the X-Men franchise that truly cemented her status as a blockbuster star. She first appeared in X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) and reprised the role in Dark Phoenix (2019), playing the powerful mutant with a formidable presence.
Sophie’s career has continued to flourish post-Thrones. In 2018, she appeared in Josie and took a leading role in the sci-fi film Time Freak.
The following year saw her in the revenge thriller Heavy. When the pandemic hit in 2020, she adapted quickly, appearing in the online series Survive and participating in Home Movie: The Princess Bride, filmed entirely on smartphones during lockdown.
In 2022, Turner made a memorable appearance in the teen black comedy Do Revenge, playing Erica in a scene that went viral. She intentionally channelled over-the-top cinema outbursts from actors like Leonardo DiCaprio and Jack Nicholson.
Her most significant recent role came in 2024 when she starred as diamond thief Joan Hannington in ITV’s serial drama Joan. The lead role demonstrated her ability to carry a significant production, marking an exciting new chapter in her career.
In 2025, she appeared as a speaker at South by Southwest London, continuing to expand her influence beyond traditional acting roles.
Beyond the screen, Sophie serves on the cultural advisory board of Colossal Biosciences, saying the work “feels like bringing a bit of fantasy to life.” She’s also been a patron of Women for Women since 2017, supporting female war survivors globally.
Sophie Turner’s Personal Life
Sophie’s personal life has been the subject of considerable public interest. She began dating American singer Joe Jonas in 2016, and the couple got engaged in October 2017.
They married on May 1, 2019, in a surprise Las Vegas ceremony (complete with an Elvis impersonator), followed by a more formal celebration in Paris on June 29, 2019.
The couple welcomed their first daughter, Willa, in July 2020, and their second daughter, Delphine, in July 2022. Jonas even wrote the song “Hesitate” as a love letter to Sophie for the Jonas Brothers’ reunion album Happiness Begins.
However, in September 2023, Jonas filed for divorce in Miami, which both parties confirmed was a mutual decision. The split became complicated when Turner sued to have their daughters—who were born in the United States—returned to the UK, citing that they’d registered Britain as their permanent residence in April 2023.
After reaching a temporary custody agreement in October, their divorce was finalised in September 2024.
Since late 2023, Turner has been in a relationship with Peregrine Pearson, son of Michael Pearson, 4th Viscount Cowdray.
Sophie Turner Biography Net Worth
Starting her career at such a young age and appearing in numerous blockbuster productions, Sophie has built considerable wealth.
While exact figures fluctuate, estimates place her net worth around $8 million, though this may be conservative given her recent projects and endorsements. She earned around $175,000 per episode of Game of Thrones.
In terms of real estate, Sophie and Joe Jonas made headlines in 2019 when they purchased a massive 15,000-square-foot home in Encino, Los Angeles, for $14.1 million.
The luxurious property featured nine bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a wine cellar, gym, home theater, two kitchens, plus a pool, spa, putting green, and guest house.
They listed it for $16.75 million in June 2021, ultimately profiting approximately $2 million from the sale.
Notable Film and Television Credits
Sophie’s impressive filmography includes:
- Game of Thrones (2011-2019) – Sansa Stark
- The Thirteenth Tale (2013) – Adeline March
- Another Me (2013) – Lead role
- Barely Lethal (2015) – Heather
- X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) – Jean Grey
- Josie (2018)
- Time Freak (2018)
- Dark Phoenix (2019) – Jean Grey
- Heavy (2019)
- Survive (2020)
- The Prince (2020) – HBO Max animated series
- The Staircase (2021) – HBO Max series
- Do Revenge (2022) – Erica
- Joan (2024) – Joan Hannington
Trivia
Standing at 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) and weighing approximately 132 pounds, Turner cuts an elegant figure. While she’s famous for her auburn locks as Sansa Stark—eventually switching to wigs in season seven—she’s naturally blonde.
Her striking features and statuesque presence have made her a sought-after face for fashion campaigns, including work with luxury brand Louis Vuitton and Karen Millen.
Sophie maintains an active Instagram presence at @sophiet, where she’s amassed over 14 million followers.
She’s a devoted dog lover who adopted Zunni, the Northern Inuit dog who played her dire wolf Lady on Game of Thrones. She’s also been candid about industry realities, once admitting she landed a role because of her social media following rather than pure acting ability.
Turner’s favourite actors from her generation include Hailee Steinfeld, Saoirse Ronan, Jennifer Lawrence, and Miles Teller. At the same time, Jack Nicholson remains her all-time favourite, with One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest topping her list of his films.
